(The Center Square) — As legislators ponder how to pay for billions of dollars’ worth of road and bridge maintenance, not to mention public transit systems across the state, experts tell them there’s no shortcuts.
“There’s more to this issue than merely throwing dollars at an antiquated system,” said Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Johnstown, during a Tuesday Senate Transportation Committee hearing. “Traditionally, when we have invested in mass transit, we have invested in major infrastructure.”
Pennsylvania’s transportation challenge is bigger than other states because revenue from state and federal gas taxes have dwindled. On average, states rely on fuel taxes for about 38% of their revenues — but in the commonwealth, it’s 76%.
The state will have to pivot if it wants to fund roads, bridges, and public transit. But there’s not a simple model to copy from other states.
“In terms of there being one silver bullet, unfortunately there’s not really much to point to,” Doug Shinkle, transportation program director at the National Conference of State Legislatures, said.
A slide shared by Shinkle listed 54 different sources for transportation funding.
Some states use sales taxes; others have higher vehicle registration fees; others use tolls or casino and hotel revenues; mass-transit taxes get passed elsewhere; and other states use general funds for their transportation needs.
Legislators have talked about bridge tolls, road user fees, and delivery package fees to replace the gas tax, though none have been enacted. The latest budget agreement, however, introduced an electric vehicle registration fee to charge drivers in lieu of the gas tax.
Public transportation shows the division in Harrisburg. Republicans worried about efficiency and public demand, while Democrats emphasized its importance in economic hubs.
“The economic engine of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania is, in many ways, the five counties of southeast Pennsylvania, and Allegheny County,” PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll said.
A functioning transit network, he argued, is “critically important to the economic vitality of the commonwealth.”
“Were we to move some of that travel to the road and bridge network, it would be overwhelmed,” Carroll said.
But getting more funds for public transit systems isn’t so simple. The motor license fund can’t be used for public transit — that fund goes to roads and bridges.
Without more riders on public transit systems, Republicans are also shy about sending more funding their way.
“Are we going to spend more money in the face of decline?” Sen. Greg Rothman, R-New Bloomfield, said, noting that ridership numbers are still below pre-COVID averages across Pennsylvania.
“If we’re going to expend roughly one-third of a billion dollars toward mass transit, and we have potentially $9 billion in unmet needs across all areas — aviation, roads, bridges, ports and the like — we need to be as efficient as possible in this,” Langerholc said.
For Republicans, SEPTA’s recent announcement that it would increase fares to deal with a fiscal cliff was a hopeful sign for compromise.
“Asking Pennsylvanians to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into mass transit is a challenging argument to make to constituents in rural areas of the commonwealth. SEPTA’s proposal to take steps forward and address their financial issues is a positive development.,” Sen. Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, said in a press release. “Given the substantial state investments for SEPTA included in the current state budget, as well as previous budgets, it is critical for conversations surrounding increased support of rider share and taxpayer subsidy to also take place at the local government level.”
Local advocacy groups struck an amiable tone.
“Some states build roads and bridges to nowhere. I’m hopeful that in Pennsylvania we can build roads and bridges to the future,” said Dave Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.
